Farm-gate.



No. 674,949. Ptented May 2a, lem. .1. VAN NlEuwLANn.

FARM GATE.

(Applicman med mr. 1a, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet l.

mlmmm J. VAN NIEUWLAND. FARM GATE.

Patented May 28, |90I.

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FARM-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,949, dated May 28, 190i.

Application filed March 18, 1901. Serial No. 50,937. (No model.) I

To (/JZ 1,071,077?, it 71ML?! concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN VAN NIEUWLAND, a citizen of the Netherlands, residing at Manhattan, in the county of Gallatin and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm-Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to that class of farm-gates in which the gate proper is automatically folded when brought to a vertical or open position and unfolded by gravity when the gate falls.

The purpose of theinvention is to provide a simple and effective means for automatically operating the gate by gravity, whereby the gate may be easily controlled in opening and closing it and securely locked in a closed position when required.

The invention consists in a gate constructed substantially'as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view of a farm-gate constructed in accordance with myinvention and showing it in a closed position; Fig. 2, a similar view of the gate in an elevated or open position; Fig. 3, a detail side elevation showing the gate in a closed position in full lines and an elevated or open position in dotted lines; Fig. 4, a detail View of the springlatch upon the end of the top rail of the gate, showing Ait in engagement with the keeper.

The gate proper consists of the top rail A and the supplemental rails B, which extend horizontally and parallel with each other and are pivoted together by suitable straps a, the rails B and strapsctbeing of any suitable nu m ber and of any length and size found best adapted to the purpose.

The upper rail A of the gate is pivoted to and between upright posts O, while the rails B extend between said posts without being pivoted thereto, so that the same will be free to fold togetherin'elevating the gate, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The rail A at its free end is provided with a spring-latch D for engaging with a suitable keeper E, of any preferred construction, said keeper being secured to the upper ends of the posts F and located between the same. Suitable guides G are also secured to the posts F to guide the end of the rail A to the position necessary to engage the latch D with the keeper E when the gate is lowered to a closed position.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to any particular construction of latch, keeper, or guides, as they may be variously modified or changed without aecting the vpractical operation of the invention.

The spring-latch D has connected thereto asuitable connecting means, such as a chain or cord b, by which said latch is drawn in to release it from engagement with the keeper E. The chain or cord b is suitably connected to one of two angle-arms H at a point near the apex of the angle of said arm, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The ends of the arms H are secured, respectively, to a gravitating weight I and to the rear endet' the rail A, the point of connnection of the arms with the weight being away from the center of said weight, so that the same will automatically operate by gravity in closing the gate. The arms H are pivoted to the rail A, but are rigidly secured to the weight I, so that the arms will more perfectly actin operating the weight to elevate it. The weight I at its in ner end is provided with a pivoted bail c or any other convenient means for connecting the Weight with the two operating-levers J K through the medium of chains, cords, or other suitable connections, as shown at d. These levers J K are pivoted to the upper ends of posts L, and the levers have pulls e, which may be simply chains or cords or rods or any suitable device in convenient reach of the hand, so that the levers may be depressed in operating the gate. f

The means employed for elevating the weight I, as above described, may be changed in detail, and any suitable arrangement of devices or mechanism may be employed for this purpose as found most simple and practical.

When either one of the levers J K is depressed or lowered, the connection of the levers with the weight I will elevate it, and at IOO the same time the latch D will he Withdrawn from engagement with the keeper E through the medium of the cord or chain b, connecting with the angle-arm H.

The two positions of the weight I after the latch has been released from its keeper are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings and the gate shown in dotted lines in the position it Will assume when entirely open.

The rail A of the gate is of sufficient length to permit the connection of weight I thereto at a point beyond the pivotal connection of the rail with the posts C to secure a pefect operating of the gate both in opening and closing it. Afulcrum pin or rod fis connected to the lower one of the rails and at the inner end thereof to act against the post C when the gate is descending.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' 1. A folding gate having its upper rail eX- tending beyond the pivotal connection with the gate-posts, a gravitating weight pivotally connected to the projecting end of the rail, a latch connecting with the weight, and suitable means for operating the Weight and latch simultaneously in opening the gate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A pivoted and folding gate having its upper rail extending beyond its pivotal connection with the gate posts, a gravitating Weight, anglefarms connected to the weight and pivoted to the projecting end of the rail, said arms being connected to the weight bei hind its center, and suitable means for oper;

ating the weight, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A pivoted and folding gate having its upper rail extending beyond the pivotal connection with the posts, a gravitating weight pivotally connected with the extended end of the rail,- a spring-latch upon the end cf the upper rail and connected with the weight,and a fulcrum pin or rod upon the inner end of the lower rail of the gate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN VAN NIEUWLAND. Witnesses:

F. M. BYAM, A. J. WALRATH. 

